Apparatus for and method of making folding blanks



Aug. 22, 1961 J. POLAYES APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING FOLDING BLANKS Filed 0017. 30, 1959 INVENTOR. 76261@ pdg/e5 Y @fof/ign United States ate TAPPARATUS FOR AND METHOD F MAKING Y, t FOLDING BLANKS ,l p "Ia/ekvtPolayeis, Westport, Conn., assigner lto The Bar- "Plate Manufacturing Company, Orange, Conn., a corporation 'of Connecticut M Filed Oct. 30, 1959,Sei'. No. 849,926 "4 Claims. (Cl. 93-'58) Thisinvention-elate's to apparatus and a-fmethodffor fnaking boxes in general-andl for laying-out and'formin'g "sample'boxes inparticular., e g

The most'common method followed to this day inniakving up sampleboxes after their design is Yto make a form- 'ttitting'core or cores around which cardboard iswrapp'ed "-intothe desired box'shape, with the creasesfor the 'fold- "-ing edges if the contemplated box struck into the `card- .jboard at mostany 'convenient stage of the box formation. This'method of making sample boxes; not only involves i'a lengthy operation 'and requires for all but the simplest b'ox `constructions prior design of the creased and cut bl'ank of'a contemplated box, but'a sample box thus "ifo'rmed yis'almost invariably a-v poor yreproduction of its 'design intherespects of 'form-fit, dimensions and finished "appearance I y "Itis the yprimary aim andobject of the presentpinven- `tion"toprovide apparatus for use not only in laying-out "an "accurate cardboardblank for a box of any form 'and "construction'and .even without its prior design so long i'as its desired s'pecic 'or approximate formis conceived iin. the mind, but' also in creasing and `cutting the blank vwithsuch accuracy that on completing its box forma- "tion the ensuing box corresponds in ever-y respect and within'exceptionally close tolerances to its lay-out and has a truly nished appearance. ,Y v

' It is another object of the present invention to provide 1 'apparatus of this type` for usenot only in laying-out creasing and cutting a cardboard blank for a box of any form and construction asaforementioned, but further in lay- `ing-out the same blank either accurately according to pre- V*selected dimensions of -a contemplated box or according to dimensions readily 4gauged from the blank itself vin v`the process of Vits llay-out to meet the dimensional yrequire- `ments of the'box for la-given purpose, yet give it proportional 'dimensions which satisfy the "boxmakers taste in 'this respect. A

, -Itis 'a further object "of 'the .present invention to pr'o- Yvide apparatus'of this type which is essentially a lay-out table with a `linear groove at 'the top and provisions for frel'e'asably holding thereon a. cardboard piece or blank -for relative Sliding movement between it and the groove. This arrangement will permit accurate creasingof a Ylaidout box blank according to a method of the presentinvention which involves aligning successive laid-out crease 'lines on the blank with the groove and passing with a dull tool edge over the aligned crease lines with sufficient impression force to displace `the blank thereat intothe v1groove for the creaseformation as well as to receive yposi- :tive guidance for the tool edge from the groove itself` in itspassage thereover. Alternatively, this arrangement and `method will permit lay-out of a cardboard blank lfor "abox'of any form or construction and even without 'its prior design, as aforementioned, onY simply starting with ja crease on the blank and forming additional creases 'ftherein according to a desired specific or approximate box shapeand size in 1mind and gauged from the blank "itselfin the Vprocess of its creasing.

'Another object'of the present Yinvention is to vprovide apparatus of this type in which the aforementioned vl"groove at the top of the table is provided on top of ia straightedge which is slidable on the table top relative to the releasably held cardboard blank thereon, with the scratched'by "asharp knife blade.

2,996,961' Patented Aug. 22, 1951 ICC ;ment at right angles to its edges and the releasable blank- 4holding provisions ou the table. additionally provide for accurate location of a cardboard blank with eitherof tivo fadjacentirectangular ,straight vedges thereof yparallel "to V'the "straightedge, thereby -greatly facilitating the Vforniat'ion lof creases and cuts Vlon lthe blank in truly parallel V`as well'as rectangular relation to each vother wherever required for its :box` formation.

It is 'another object'of the presentinvention to provide apparatus of this type with a scale Yon the table top 'on which to V'measure linear dimensions with the slidable straightedge, thereby also facilitating accurate layout-,'di m'ensionwise, of a box blank directly ou a cardboard piece on the table top.

Other objects and `advantages will appear to 'those Vskilled in the artfrom the following,l considered incoh- 'jnction with the accompanying drawings. Y

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain'modesv of carrying out the-.present linvention are shown 'forillustrative purposes:

FIG. l is' a fragmentary `perspective view'of apparatus embodying the vpresent invention;

.-FIG. 2 lis afrgmentary section throughthe appara'tlsl substantially -astaken on the lines 2-2 ofFlG. 1';

FIG. 2A is Van" enlarged fragmentary section through FIG.. 2; Y

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section throughth'e vapparatus taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is azfragmentary perspective view of "a tool u'sed in conjunction with the apparatus;

lFIG. Sisa view of an exemplary'boxblank made 'on the apparatus of FIG. '1; and v FIG. 6 is Vafperfspeetive view of'theblank after its'for- A*mation'into a box.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly "to FIGS. Al :and A2 thereof, the reference-numeral =t() designates apparatus'for use in creasing blanks of cardboard or -the like in particular, and for broader use in 'making `boxemancl especiallysample boxes. The present appa- `ratus lis essentially in the form of 'a table l2 with a slid- :ing straightedge A14 and a blank-holding device 16.

. The table 12, which is vpresently of rectangular ou-'t- '=li`ne, `i`s mounted, and may even be tilted into 'different Y'positionsfon'a suitable base frame '18. The table 12 has 1a flat top `surface 'Z0 which, in the present instance, is `recessed vover the greater .part thereof to receive a top :plate 22 that is preferably ilush with the table surfae 20,an'd is of lglassor Ia likehard material ythat will not be `The straightedge14, which i-s preferably of steel @an extends longitudinally of thetable or horizon-tallyf'ls with its opposite ends suitably secured to vdrive chains 24 and 26 whichpass 'over pairs of sprockets 28 and 30,

respectively. The front sprockets 28a and 3in1 `are snitably journalled in the opposite ends of the table '12, while 'the' rear sprockets (only one shown) are mounted onfa 'shaft 32 which issuitably journalled in the table 12 at "the rear thereof. `Both front sprockets 28a and 30a are presently provided with handwheels 34 sothat on manipulation 'of either handwheel Vthes'traightedge 14V will :be

vvshiftedonthe Vtable Vat right 'angles toits-.parallel'fside' edges 36.

The blank-holding device 16 comprises, in the present instance, clamping members 38 which are pivotally 4mounted at 40 in spaced blocks 42 that are slidable in a `longitudinal guideway 44 `at the front of the table 12. v.-Ihe blocks 42 are retained in the guideway 44 by a, front plate 46 on the table, `and they `are in yany suitable man- .ner locked therein in longitudinally adjusted positions. JEach clamping member 38 has a projecting nger 50 ':-(FIG. 2) which extends over the front part of the top plate 22 and is normally urged thereagainst by a compreslsion spring 52 acting on the clamping member. Associ- Lated with each clamping member 38 is an operating lever 54 (see also FIG. 2A) which is pivoted at 56 on the respective block 42 and has a short arm 58 projecting `underneath the linger 50 of the clamping member. Each clamping member 38 may be retracted from clamping polsition into a release position against the urgency of its -spring 52, on turning the associated operating lever 54 vat its handle 60 counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 2A. .In thus turning the operating lever 54 suticiently, its short arm 58 will lock the clamping member in release position, requiring subsequent clockwise turning of the op- -eratfing lever to some extent before the clamping member :is released for spring-return to clamping position. Asso- .ciated with each clamping member 38 is a stop 62 which is .mounted on the respective block 42 and has a locating :surface 64 for a blank b of cardboard or the like. The locating surfaces 64 of the stops 62 on the spaced blocks -42 are so coordinated that a straightedge of the blank b placed thereagainst is thereby located in parallelism with `the straightedge 14.

The straightedge `14 has in its top surface 66 a groove, and in the present instance several grooves 68, each of which may serve for creasing the blank b. These grooves I68, which extend parallel to each other and to the edges :36 of the straightedge 14, -are of different widths and may also be of different depths (FIG. 3), and they are iused selectively for creasing cardboard or a like material yof dilerent thickness or different hardness to the end of obtaining a crease that will permit ready folding of the .material thereat.

Provided vat the table top 20 is a scale 70 on which to :measure linear dimensions with the straightedge 14. The

zero graduation of the scale 70 is preferably in line with 'the locating surfaces 64 of the stops 62 so that the linear dimension of a located blank to either edge of the straight- Iedge 14 in any position of the latter is indicated on the :scale at the traverse thereat of the same edge of the straightedge.

Used with the apparatus 10 is a depressor tool 72 (FIG. 4) which presently is in the form of a replaceable depressor blade 74 on a suitable handle 76. The depressor blade 74 has in this instance a smoothly rounded operating end 78 of a width somewhat less than that of the particular groove 68 in the straightedge with which it is to be used (FIG. 3). In this particular use, the operator handling the tool 72 passes the depressor blade 74 with its end 78 lengthwise over the portion of the blank b on the straightedge which overlies the grooves 68a, applying at the same time sufficient impression force to displace the blank material thereat into the groove 68a to form the crease c. In thus depressing the blank material into the groove 68a, the depressor blade 74 is throughout its pass over the blank positively guided by this groove, thus not only permitting its rapid pass over the blank but also obtaining a truly linear crease in the blank.

Following is a description of an exemplary operation to obtain the box blank b of FIG. which is adapted for formation into the box b of FIG. 6. Thus, assuming that the dimensions of the blank b are known, it is merely necessary to locate on the stops 62 on the table 12 a straight edge of a cardboard or like blank of larger overall dimensions than those of the planned blank b and then clamp the larger blank to the'top plate 22. Assuming that the thus located edge of the larger blank 4 is the longitudinal edge e1 of the planned blank b' (FIG. 5), the straight edge 14 may be slid on top of the clamped blank into a position in which its forward edge 36a, for example, measures olf the dimension d1 of the blank b' on the scale 70, whereupon a knife blade may be passed along the edge 36a of the straightedge to cut the clamped blank for the formation of the other longitudinal edge e2 of the planned blank. The straightedge may then be used with reference to the scale 70 to outline in pencil on the clamped blank the longitudinal creases c2 and c1 to-be-formed. The straightedge 14 is then slid underneath the clamped blank and the outline of the crease c2 aligned with the appropriate groove 68 in the straightedge, which may be the groove 68a (FIG.l 3), whereupon the depressor blade 74 is passed over the blank lengthwise of the groove 68a to form the crease c2, the blank being meanwhile hand-depressed against the straightedge to prevent buckling of the blank on passing the depressor blade thereover with the necessary pressure to form the offset crease c2. The crease c1 is next formed in the same manner on sliding the straightedge with its groove 68a into alignment with the .outline of this crease. The blank may then be released from the top plate 22 and reclamped thereagainst with its other straightedge e3 located on the stops 62. lAssuming that the straightedges e1 and e3 of the original blank are rectangular to each other, it follows that any crease or cut formed in the reclamped blank at the straightedge will extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal creases c1 and c2. The straightedge may now be slid into position on top of the blank for cutting the same at the other end edge e4 with refernce to the scale 70 to obtain the lengthwise overall dimension d2 of the planned blank. The successive creases c3 to c6 may next be outline in pencil on the blank with the aid of the straightedge 14 and with ref- 'erence to the scale 70 to maintain proper dimensions.

The straightedge may then be slid underneath the clamped blank and the creases c3 to c6 formed in the same manner as the longitudinal creases c1 and c2. The straightedge may then be shifted on top of the clamped blank for the cutting of the blank edges e5 to e8 with a knife blade under guidance by the straightedge 14. The blank may then be released from the top plate 22 and the inclined blank edge e9 cut to complete the formation of the planned blank b. The blank b has thus been formed from a .larger blank without any previous lay-out, the

' same having in fact been laid-out completely on the top plate 22 with the aid of the straightedge 14 and scale 70.

The finished blank b may in self-evident manner be folded about the various creases into the box b" of FIG. 6 in which the end tab t is tucked underneath and cemented to the box end panel p, the box side panels p1 to p4 hav- `ing been folded inwardly with the panels p3 and p4 being outermost and cemented to the panels p1 and p2,

i and the opposite box side panels p5 and p6 having been Afolded inwardly, with the other side panels p7 and p8 being as yet unfolded.

While the exemplary box blank b' and box b" are of the simplest possible kind, the described formation of this blank nevertheless sutlices to indicate the numerous potential uses of the apparatus 10 and depressor tool 72.

VThus, this equipment may be used with great advantage for laying-out and finishing blanks of any form and dimensions. This equipment is even ideally suited for creating box designs by visually gauging desirable dimensions and shapes of individual box panels from progressively formed creases in a blank.

While in the exemplary apparatus 10 the creasing groove or grooves are advantageously provided in the sliding straightedge, it is fully within the purview of the present invention to provide the creasing groove or grooves in the table top and provide for guided movement of a clamped blank relative to the groove or grooves, for example, by locating a blank on and releasably clamping it to the sliding straightedge.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways then those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming Within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be ernbraced therein.

What is claimed is:

l. Apparatus for use in creasing a blank of cardboard or the like, comprising a table With a flat top; a straightedge With parallel side edges slidable on the table top at right angles to said edges and having a plane top surface with a groove therein of the Width of a crease and extending parallel to said edges; and a device on said table for releasably clamping a blank against a margin of said table top substantially parallel to said straightedge to permit sliding of the latter underneath the nonclamped remainder of the blank on the table top.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,153,951 Plante Sept. 21, 1915 1,221,2-13 Plante Apr. 3, 1917 1,367,675 Tibbitts Feb. 8, 1921 1,633,655 Walter June 28, 1927 

